Anti-shake apparatus

ABSTRACT

An anti-shake apparatus of a photographing apparatus comprises a movable-unit and a fixed-unit. The movable-unit has an imaging device and can be moved in first and second directions. The fixed-unit slidably supports the movable-unit in both the first and second directions. The movable-unit has a hall-element unit, and a first driving coil which is used for moving the movable-unit in the first direction, and a second driving coil which is used for moving the movable-unit in the second direction. The hall-element unit has a horizontal hall-element which is used for detecting a position of the movable-unit in the first direction as a first location, and a vertical hall-element which is used for detecting a position of the movable-unit in the second direction as a second location. The horizontal hall-element is arranged inside the first driving coil. The vertical hall-element is arranged inside the second driving coil.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an anti-shake apparatus for aphotographing device (apparatus), and in particular to aposition-detecting apparatus for a movable unit that includes theimaging device etc., and that can be moved for correcting the hand-shakeeffect.

2. Description of the Related Art

An anti-shake apparatus for a photographing apparatus is proposed. Theanti-shake apparatus corrects for the hand-shake effect by moving ahand-shake correcting lens or an imaging device on a plane that isperpendicular to the optical axis, corresponding to the amount ofhand-shake which occurs during imaging.

Japanese unexamined patent publication (KOKAI) No. 2002-229090 disclosesan anti-shake apparatus for a photographing apparatus. The anti-shakeapparatus performs a moving operation of a movable unit, which includesa hand-shake correcting lens, by using a permanent magnet and a coil,and a position-detecting operation of the movable unit, by using a hallelement and a permanent magnet.

However, the magnet and yoke are enlarged on the plane which isperpendicular to the optical axis, because the parts of the magnet andyoke for detecting the position of the movable unit in the firstdirection extend to the parts of the magnet and yoke for moving themovable unit in the first direction, and the parts of the magnet andyoke for detecting the position of the movable unit in the seconddirection extend to the parts of the magnet and yoke for moving themovable unit in the second direction, on the plane which isperpendicular to the optical axis.

The first direction is perpendicular to the optical axis, and the seconddirection is perpendicular to the optical axis and the first direction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatusin which the size of the magnet and yoke for detecting the position ofthe movable unit and for moving the movable unit, is reduced, in ananti-shake apparatus which uses a magnetic-field change-detectingelement.

According to the present invention, an anti-shake apparatus of aphotographing apparatus comprises a movable unit and a fixed unit.

The movable unit has an imaging device and can be moved in first andsecond directions. The first direction is perpendicular to an opticalaxis of a camera lens of said photographing apparatus. The seconddirection is perpendicular to the optical axis and the first direction.

The fixed unit slidably supports the movable unit in both the first andsecond directions.

The movable unit has a magnetic-field change-detecting unit, and a firstdriving coil which is used for moving the movable unit in the firstdirection, and a second driving coil which is used for moving themovable unit in the second direction.

The magnetic-field change-detecting unit has a horizontal magnetic-fieldchange-detecting element which is used for detecting a position of themovable unit in the first direction, as a first location, and a verticalmagnetic-field change-detecting element which is used for detecting aposition of the movable unit in the second direction, as a secondlocation.

The horizontal magnetic-field change-detecting element is arrangedinside the first driving coil.

The vertical magnetic-field change-detecting element is arranged insidethe second driving coil.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and advantages of the present invention will be betterunderstood from the following description, with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a photographing apparatus of theembodiment viewed from the back side of the photographing apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the photographing apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a circuit construction diagram of the photographing apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a figure showing the construction of the anti-shake unit;

FIG. 5 is a view along line A-A of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a construction figure of the first driving coil and horizontalhall element;

FIG. 7 is a circuit construction diagram of the circuit the hall elementunit and the hall-element signal-processing unit; and

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the anti-shake operation, which is performed atevery predetermined time interval, as an interruption process.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is described below with reference to theembodiment shown in the drawings. In this embodiment, the photographingdevice 1 is a digital camera. The photographing device 1 has an opticalaxis LX.

In order to explain the direction in this embodiment, a first directionx, a second direction y, and a third direction z are defined (see FIG.1). The first direction x is a horizontal direction which isperpendicular to the optical axis LX. The second direction y is avertical direction which is perpendicular to the optical axis LX and thefirst direction x. The third direction z is a horizontal direction whichis parallel to the optical axis LX and perpendicular to both the firstdirection x and the second direction y.

FIG. 5 shows a construction diagram of the section along line A-A ofFIG. 4.

The imaging part of the photographing apparatus 1 comprises a Pon button11, a Pon switch 11 a, a photometric switch 12 a, a release button 13, arelease switch 13 a, an indicating unit 17 such as an LCD monitor etc.,a CPU 21, an imaging block 22, an AE (automatic exposure) unit 23, an AF(automatic focusing) unit 24, an imaging unit 39 a in the anti-shakeapparatus 30, and a camera lens 67 (see FIGS. 1, 2, and 3).

Whether the Pon switch 11 a is in the on state or the off state, isdetermined by a state of the Pon button 11, so that the ON/OFF states ofthe photographing apparatus 1 are changed corresponding to the ON/OFFstates of the Pon switch 11 a.

The photographic subject image is taken as an optical image through thecamera lens 67 by the imaging block 22, which drives the imaging unit 39a, so that the image, which is taken, is indicated on the indicatingunit 17. The photographic subject image can be optically observed by theoptical finder (not depicted).

When the release button 13 is half pushed by the operator, thephotometric switch 12 a changes to the on state, so that the photometricoperation, the AF sensing operation, and the focusing operation areperformed.

When the release button 13 is fully pushed by the operator, the releaseswitch 13 a changes to the on state, so that the imaging operation isperformed, and the image, which is taken, is stored.

The CPU 21 is a control apparatus, which controls each part of thephotographing apparatus 1 regarding the imaging operation, and controlseach part of the photographing apparatus 1 regarding the anti-shakeoperation. The anti-shake operation controls the movement of the movableunit 30 a and controls detecting the position of the movable unit 30 a.

The imaging block 22 drives the imaging unit 39 a. The AE unit 23performs the photometric operation for the photographic subject,calculates the photometric values, and calculates the aperture value andthe time length of the exposure time, which is needed for imaging,corresponding to the photometric values. The AF unit 24 performs the AFsensing operation, and performs the focusing operation, which is neededfor the imaging, corresponding to the result of the AF sensingoperation. In the focusing operation, the position of the camera lens 67is moved in the optical axis LX direction.

The anti-shaking part of the photographing apparatus 1 comprises ananti-shake button 14, an anti-shake switch 14 a, a CPU 21, an angularvelocity detecting unit 25, a driver circuit 29, an anti-shake apparatus30, a hall-element signal-processing unit 45, and the camera lens 67.

When the anti-shake button 14 is fully pushed by the operator, theanti-shake switch 14 a changes to the on state, so that the anti-shakeoperation is performed where the angular velocity detecting unit 25 andthe anti-shake apparatus 30 are driven, at every predetermined timeinterval, independently of the other operations which include thephotometric operation etc. When the anti-shake switch 14 a is in the onstate, in other words in the anti-shake mode, the parameter IS is set to1 (IS=1). When the anti-shake switch 14 a is not in the on state, inother words in the non anti-shake mode, the parameter IS is set to 0(IS=0). In this embodiment, the predetermined time interval is 1 ms.

The various output commands corresponding to the input signals of theseswitches are controlled by the CPU 21.

The information regarding whether the photometric switch 12 a is in theon state or in the off state, is input to port P12 of the CPU 21 as a1-bit digital signal. The information regarding whether the releaseswitch 13 a is in the on state or in the off state, is input to port P13of the CPU 21 as a 1-bit digital signal. The information regardingwhether the anti-shake switch 14 a is in the on state or in the offstate, is input to port P14 of the CPU 21 as a 1-bit digital signal.

The imaging block 22 is connected to port P3 of the CPU 21 for inputtingand outputting signals. The AE unit 23 is connected to port P4 of theCPU 21 for inputting and outputting signals. The AF unit 24 is connectedto port P5 of the CPU 21 for inputting and outputting signals.

Next, the details of the input and output relationship with the CPU 21for the angular velocity unit 25, the driver circuit 29, the anti-shakeapparatus 30, and the hall-element signal-processing unit 45 areexplained.

The angular velocity unit 25 has a first angular velocity sensor 26, asecond angular velocity sensor 27, and a combined amplifier andhigh-pass filter circuit 28. The first angular velocity sensor 26detects the velocity-component in the first direction x of the angularvelocity of the photographing apparatus 1, at every predetermined timeinterval (1 ms). The second angular velocity sensor 27 detects thevelocity-component in the second direction y of the angular velocity ofthe photographing apparatus 1, at every predetermined time interval (1ms).

The combined amplifier and high-pass filter circuit 28 amplifies thesignal regarding the first direction x of the angular velocity (thevelocity-component in the first direction x of the angular velocity),reduces a null voltage and a panning of the first angular velocitysensor 26, and outputs the analogue signal to the A/D converter A/D 0 ofthe CPU 21 as a first angular velocity vx.

The combined amplifier and high-pass filter circuit 28 amplifies thesignal regarding the second direction y of the angular velocity (thevelocity-component in the second direction y of the angular velocity),reduces a null voltage and a panning of the second angular velocitysensor 27, and outputs the analogue signal to the A/D converter A/D 1 ofthe CPU 21 as a second angular velocity vy.

The CPU 21 converts the first angular velocity vx which is input to theA/D converter A/D 0 and the second angular velocity vy which is input tothe A/D converter A/D 1 to digital signals (A/D converting operation),and calculates the hand-shake quantity, which occurs in thepredetermined time (1 ms), on the basis of the converted digital signalsand the converting coefficient, where focal distance is considered.Accordingly, the CPU 21 and the angular velocity detecting unit 25 havea function which calculates the hand-shake quantity.

The CPU 21 calculates the position S of the imaging unit 39 a (themovable unit 30 a), which should be moved to, corresponding to thehand-shake quantity which is calculated, for the first direction x andthe second direction y.

The location in the first direction x of the position S is defined assx, and the location in the second direction y of the position S isdefined as sy. The movement of the movable unit 30 a, which includes theimaging unit 39 a, is performed by using electro-magnetic force and isdescribed later. The driving force D, which drives the driver circuit 29in order to move the movable unit 30 a to the position S, has a firstPWM duty dx as the driving-force component in the first direction x, anda second PWM duty dy as the driving-force component in the seconddirection y.

The anti-shake apparatus 30 is an apparatus which corrects thehand-shake effect, by moving the imaging unit 39 a to the position S, bycanceling lag of the photographic subject image on the imaging surfaceof the imaging device 39 a 1, and by stabilizing the photographingsubject image that reaches the imaging surface of the imaging device 39a 1.

The anti-shake apparatus 30 has a movable unit 30 a, which includes theimaging unit 39 a, and a fixed unit 30 b. Or, the anti-shake apparatus30 is composed of a driving part which moves the movable unit 30 a byelectro-magnetic force to the position S, and a position-detecting partwhich detects the position of the movable unit 30 a (a detected-positionP).

The size and the direction of the electro-magnetic force are determinedby the size and the direction of the current which flows in the coil,and the size and the direction of the magnetic-field of the magnet.

The driving of the movable unit 30 a of the anti-shake apparatus 30, isperformed by the driver circuit 29 which has the first PWM duty dx inputfrom the PWM 0 of the CPU 21 and has the second PWM duty dy input fromthe PWM 1 of the CPU 21. The detected-position P of the movable unit 30a, either before moving or after moving, which is moved by driving thedriver circuit 29, is detected by the hall element unit 44 a and thehall-element signal-processing unit 45.

Information of a first location in the first direction x for thedetected-position P, in other words a first detected-position signal pxis input to the A/D converter A/D 2 of the CPU 21. The firstdetected-position signal px is an analogue signal, and is converted to adigital signal through the A/D converter A/D 2 (A/D convertingoperation). The first location in the first direction x for thedetected-position P, after the A/D converting operation, is defined aspdx, corresponding to the first detected-position signal px.

Information of a second location in the second direction y for thedetected-position P, in other words a second detected-position signal pyis input to the A/D converter A/D 3 of the CPU 21. The seconddetected-position signal py is an analogue signal, and is converted to adigital signal through the A/D converter A/D 3 (A/D convertingoperation). The second location in the second direction y for thedetected-position P, after the A/D converting operation, is defined aspdy, corresponding to the second detected-position signal py.

The PID (Proportional Integral Differential) control is performed on thebasis of the data for the detected-position P (pdx, pdy) and the datafor the position S (sx, sy) which should be moved to.

The movable unit 30 a has a first driving coil 31 a, a second drivingcoil 32 a, an imaging unit 39 a, a hall element unit 44 a, a movablecircuit board 49 a, a shaft for movement 50 a, a first bearing unit forhorizontal movement 51 a, a second bearing unit for horizontal movement52 a, a third bearing unit for horizontal movement 53 a, and a plate 64a (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

The fixed unit 30 b has a position-detecting magnet unit, a firstposition-detecting and driving yoke 431 b, a second position-detectingand driving yoke 432 b, a first bearing unit for vertical movement 54 b,a second bearing unit for vertical movement 55 b, a third bearing unitfor vertical movement 56 b, a fourth bearing unit for vertical movement57 b, and a base board 65 b. The position-detecting magnet unit has afirst position-detecting and driving magnet 411 b and a secondposition-detecting and driving magnet 412 b.

The shaft for movement 50 a of the movable unit 30 a has a channel shapewhen viewed from the third direction z. The first, second, third, andfourth bearing units for vertical movement 54 b, 55 b, 56 b, and 57 bare attached to the base board 65 b of the fixed unit 30 b. The shaftfor movement 50 a is slidably supported in the vertical direction (thesecond direction y), by the first, second, third, and fourth bearingunits for vertical movement 54 b, 55 b, 56 b, and 57 b.

The first and second bearing units for vertical movement 54 b and 55 bhave slots which extend in the second direction y.

Therefore, the movable unit 30 a can move relative to the fixed unit 30b, in the vertical direction (the second direction y).

The shaft for movement 50 a is slidably supported in the horizontaldirection (the first direction x), by the first, second, and thirdbearing units for horizontal movement 51 a, 52 a, and 53 a of themovable unit 30 a. Therefore, the movable unit 30 a, except for theshaft for movement 50 a, can move relative to the fixed unit 30 b andthe shaft for movement 50 a, in the horizontal direction (the firstdirection x).

When the center area of the imaging device 39 a 1 is located on theoptical axis LX of the camera lens 67, the location relation between themovable unit 30 a and the fixed unit 30 b is set up so that the movableunit 30 a is located at the center of its movement range in both thefirst direction x and the second direction y, in order to utilize thefull size of the imaging range of the imaging device 39 a 1.

A rectangle shape, which forms the imaging surface of the imaging device39 a 1, has two diagonal lines. In this embodiment, the center of theimaging device 39 a 1 is the crossing point of these two diagonal lines.

The imaging unit 39 a, the plate 64 a, and the movable circuit board 49a are attached, in this order along the optical axis LX direction,viewed from the side of the camera lens 67. The imaging unit 39 a has animaging device 39 a 1 (such as a CCD or a COMS etc.), a stage 39 a 2, aholding unit 39 a 3, and an optical low-pass filter 39 a 4. The stage 39a 2 and the plate 64 a hold and urge the imaging device 39 a 1, theholding unit 39 a 3, and the optical low-pass filter 39 a 4 in theoptical axis LX direction.

The first, second, and third bearing units for horizontal movement 51 a,52 a, and 53 a are attached to the stage 39 a 2. The imaging device 39 a1 is attached to the plate 64 a, so that positioning of the imagingdevice 39 a 1 is performed where the imaging device 39 a 1 isperpendicular to the optical axis LX of the camera lens 67. In the casewhere the plate 64 a is made of a metallic material, the plate 64 a hasthe effect of radiating heat from the imaging device 39 a 1, bycontacting the imaging device 39 a 1.

The first driving coil 31 a, the second driving coil 32 a, and the hallelement unit 44 a are attached to the movable circuit board 49 a.

The first driving coil 31 a forms a seat and a spiral shape coilpattern. The coil pattern of the first driving coil 31 a has lines whichare parallel to either the first direction x or the second direction y,where the movable unit 30 a which includes the first driving coil 31 a,is moved in the first direction x, by the first electro-magnetic force.The lines which are parallel to the second direction y, are used formoving the movable unit 30 a in the first direction x. The lines whichare parallel to the second direction y, have a first effective lengthL1.

The first electro-magnetic force occurs on the basis of the currentdirection of the first driving coil 31 a and the magnetic-fielddirection of the first position-detecting and driving magnet 411 b.

The second driving coil 32 a forms a seat and a spiral shape coilpattern. The coil pattern of the second driving coil 32 a has lineswhich are parallel to either the first direction x or the seconddirection y, where the movable unit 30 a which includes the seconddriving coil 32 a, is moved in the second direction y, by the secondelectro-magnetic force. The lines which are parallel to the firstdirection x, are used for moving the movable unit 30 a in the seconddirection y. The lines which are parallel to the first direction x, havea second effective length L2.

The second electro-magnetic force occurs on the basis of the currentdirection of the second driving coil 32 a and the magnetic-fielddirection of the second position-detecting and driving magnet 412 b.

Because the first and second driving coils 31 a and 32 a are seat andspiral shape coil patterns, the thicknesses of the first and seconddriving coils 31 a and 32 a, in the third direction z, can be thinneddown in the third direction z.

Therefore, even if the first driving coil 31 a consists of some seatcoils which are layered in the third direction z (in order to raise themagnetic-flux density between the first position-detecting and drivingmagnet 411 b and the first driving coil 31 a), the thickness of thefirst driving coil 31 a is not increased in the third direction z.

Similarly, even if the second driving coil 32 a consists of some seatcoils which are layered in the third direction z (in order to raise themagnetic-flux density between the second position-detecting and drivingmagnet 412 b and the second driving coil 32 a), the thickness of thesecond driving coil 32 a is not increased in the third direction z.

Further, it is possible to reduce the size of the anti-shake apparatus30, by reducing the distance between the movable unit 30 a and the fixedunit 30 b in the third direction z, in comparison with when the firstand second driving coils 31 a and 32 a do not form seat and spiral shapecoil patterns.

FIG. 6 shows that the first driving coil 31 a (which has two seat coilslayered in the third direction z) and the horizontal hall element hh10,are layered in the third direction z.

Similarly, the second driving coil 32 a (which has two seat coilslayered in the third direction z) and the vertical hall element hv10,are layered in the third direction z (not depicted).

However, the number of seat coils of the first and second driving coils31 a and 32 a, which are layered in the third direction z, does not haveto be two, so that the first and second driving coils 31 a and 32 a aremulti-layered seat coils.

The first and second driving coils 31 a and 32 a are connected with thedriver circuit 29 which drives the first and second driving coils 31 aand 32 a through the flexible circuit board (not depicted). The firstPWM duty dx is input to the driver circuit 29 from the PWM 0 of the CPU21, and the second PWM duty dy is input to the driver circuit 29 fromthe PWM 1 of the CPU 21. The driver circuit 29 supplies power to thefirst driving coil 31 a corresponding to the value of the first PWM dutydx, and to the second driving coil 32 a corresponding to the value ofthe second PWM duty dy, to drive the movable unit 30 a.

The first position-detecting and driving magnet 411 b is attached to themovable unit side of the fixed unit 30 b, where the firstposition-detecting and driving magnet 411 b faces the first driving coil31 a and the horizontal hall element hh10 in the third direction z.

The second position-detecting and driving magnet 412 b is attached tothe movable unit side of the fixed unit 30 b, where the secondposition-detecting and driving magnet 412 b faces the second drivingcoil 32 a and the vertical hall element hv10 in the third direction z.

The first position-detecting and driving magnet 411 b is attached to thefirst position-detecting and driving yoke 431 b, under the conditionwhere the N pole and S pole are arranged in the first direction x. Thefirst position-detecting and driving yoke 431 b is attached to the baseboard 65 b of the fixed unit 30 b, on the side of the movable unit 30 a,in the third direction z.

The length of the first position-detecting and driving magnet 411 b inthe second direction y, is longer in comparison with the first effectivelength L1 of the first driving coil 31 a. The magnetic-field whichinfluences the first driving coil 31 a and the horizontal hall elementhh10, is not changed during movement of the movable unit 30 a in thesecond direction y.

The second position-detecting and driving magnet 412 b is attached tothe second position-detecting and driving yoke 432 b, under thecondition where the N pole and S pole are arranged in the seconddirection y. The second position-detecting and driving yoke 432 b isattached to the base board 65 b of the fixed unit 30 b, on the side ofthe movable unit 30 a, in the third direction z.

The length of the second position-detecting and driving magnet 412 b inthe first direction x, is longer in comparison with the second effectivelength L2 of the second driving coil 32 a. The magnetic-field whichinfluences the second driving coil 32 a and the vertical hall elementhv10, is not changed during movement of the movable unit 30 a in thefirst direction x.

The first position-detecting and driving yoke 431 b is made of a softmagnetic material, and forms a square-u-shape channel when viewed fromthe second direction y. The first position-detecting and driving magnet411 b, the first driving coil 31 a, and the horizontal hall element hh10are inside the channel of the first position-detecting and driving yoke431 b.

The side of the first position-detecting and driving yoke 431 b, whichcontacts the first position-detecting and driving magnet 411 b, preventsthe magnetic-field of the first position-detecting and driving magnet411 b from leaking to the surroundings.

The other side of the first position-detecting and driving yoke 431 b(which faces the first position-detecting and driving magnet 411 b, thefirst driving coil 31 a, and the movable circuit board 49 a) raises themagnetic-flux density between the first position-detecting and drivingmagnet 411 b and the first driving coil 31 a, and between the firstposition-detecting and driving magnet 411 b and the horizontal hallelement hh10.

The second position-detecting and driving yoke 432 b is made of a softmagnetic material, and forms a square-u-shape channel when viewed fromthe first direction x. The second position-detecting and driving magnet412 b, the second driving coil 32 a, and the vertical hall element hv10are inside the channel of the second position-detecting and driving yoke432 b.

The side of the second position-detecting and driving yoke 432 b, whichcontacts the second position-detecting and driving magnet 412 b,prevents the magnetic-field of the second position-detecting and drivingmagnet 412 b from leaking to the surroundings.

The other side of the second position-detecting and driving yoke 432 b(which faces the second position-detecting and driving magnet 412 b, thesecond driving coil 32 a, and the movable circuit board 49 a) raises themagnetic-flux density between the second position-detecting and drivingmagnet 412 b and the second driving coil 32 a, and between the secondposition-detecting and driving magnet 412 b and the vertical hallelement hv10.

The hall element unit 44 a is a one-axis hall element which has two hallelements that are magnetoelectric converting elements (magnetic-fieldchange-detecting elements) using the Hall Effect. The hall element unit44 a detects the first detected-position signal px which is used forspecifying the first location in the first direction x for the presentposition P of the movable unit 30 a, and the second detected-positionsignal py which is used for specifying the second location in the seconddirection y for the present position P of the movable unit 30 a.

One of the two hall elements is a horizontal hall element hh10 fordetecting the first location in the first direction x of the movableunit 30 a, so that the other is a vertical hall element hv10 fordetecting the second location in the second direction y of the movableunit 30 a (see FIG. 4).

The horizontal hall element hh10 is attached to the movable circuitboard 49 a of the movable unit 30 a, under the condition where thehorizontal hall element hh10 faces the first position-detecting anddriving magnet 411 b of the fixed unit 30 b, in the third direction z.

The vertical hall element hv10 is attached to the movable circuit board49 a of the movable unit 30 a, under the condition where the verticalhall element hv10 faces the second position-detecting and driving magnet412 b of the fixed unit 30 b, in the third direction z.

The horizontal hall element hh10 is arranged inside the spiral shape ofthe winding of the first driving coil 31 a. Further, it is desirablethat the horizontal hall element hh10 is arranged midway along an outercircumference of the spiral shape of the winding of the first drivingcoil 31 a in the first direction x.

In this case, the center of the movement range of the movable unit 30 ain the first direction x and the center of the position detecting rangeof the horizontal hall element hh10 can agree, so that the movementrange of the movable unit 30 a in the first direction x and the positiondetecting range of the horizontal hall element hh10 can be utilized.

The vertical hall element hv10 is arranged inside the spiral shape ofthe winding of the second driving coil 32 a, further, it is desirablethat the vertical hall element hv10 is arranged midway along an outercircumference of the spiral shape of the winding of the second drivingcoil 32 a in the second direction y.

In this case, the center of the movement range of the movable unit 30 ain the second direction y and the center of the position detecting rangeof the vertical hall element hv10 can agree, so that the movement rangeof the movable unit 30 a in the second direction y and the positiondetecting range of the vertical hall element hv10 can be utilized.

At the part of the movable circuit board 49 a to which the horizontalhall element hh10 is attached, the first driving coil 31 a (where thetwo seat coils are layered in the third direction z) and the horizontalhall element hh10, are layered in the third direction z (see FIG. 6).

Similarly, at the part of the movable circuit board 49 a to which thevertical hall element hv10 is attached, the second driving coil 32 a(where the two seat coils are layered in the third direction z) and thevertical hall element hv10, are layered in the third direction z.

Therefore, the movable circuit board 49 a is a multi-layered circuitboard.

In this embodiment, because the horizontal hall element hh10 is arrangedinside the first driving coil 31 a, the lengths of the firstposition-detecting and driving magnet 411 b and the firstposition-detecting and driving yoke 431 b in the second direction y, aredetermined by the length of the first driving coil 31 a in the seconddirection y and the movement range of the first driving coil 31 a in thesecond direction y, and are not determined by the length of both thefirst driving coil 31 a and horizontal hall element hh10 in the seconddirection y, nor the movement range of both the first driving coil 31 aand the horizontal hall element hh10 in the second direction y.

Therefore, the lengths of the first position-detecting and drivingmagnet 411 b and the first position-detecting and driving yoke 431 b canbe shortened in the second direction y, so that the anti-shake apparatus30 can be downsized, in comparison with when the horizontal hall elementhh10 is arranged outside the first driving coil 31 a in the seconddirection y.

Further, because the first driving coil 31 a and the horizontal hallelement hh10 are layered on the movable circuit board 49 a in the thirddirection z, even if the horizontal hall element hh10 is arranged insidethe first driving coil 31 a, the thickness of the part of the movablecircuit board 49 a to which the first driving coil 31 a and thehorizontal hall element hh10 are attached, is not increased in the thirddirection z.

Similarly, because the vertical hall element hv10 is arranged inside thesecond driving coil 32 a, the lengths of the second position-detectingand driving magnet 412 b and the second position-detecting and drivingyoke 432 b in the first direction x, are determined by the length of thesecond driving coil 32 a in the first direction x and the movement rangeof the second driving coil 32 a in the first direction x, and are notdetermined by the length of both the second driving coil 32 a andvertical hall element hv10 in the first direction x, nor the movementrange of both the second driving coil 32 a and the vertical hall elementhv10 in the first direction x.

Therefore, the lengths of the second position-detecting and drivingmagnet 412 b and the second position-detecting and driving yoke 432 bcan be shortened in the first direction x, so that the anti-shakeapparatus 30 can be downsized, in comparison with when the vertical hallelement hv10 is arranged outside the second driving coil 32 a in thefirst direction x.

Further, because the second driving coil 32 a and the vertical hallelement hv10 are layered on the movable circuit board 49 a in the thirddirection z, even if the vertical hall element hv10 is arranged insidethe second driving coil 32 a, the thickness of the part of the movablecircuit board 49 a to which the second driving coil 32 a and thevertical hall element hv10 are attached, is not increased in the thirddirection z.

When the center of the imaging device 39 a 1, passes through the opticalaxis LX, it is desirable that the horizontal hall element hh10 islocated at a place on the hall element unit 44 a which faces anintermediate area between the N pole and S pole of the firstposition-detecting and driving magnet 411 b in the first direction x,viewed from the third direction z, to perform the position-detectingoperation utilizing the full size of the range where an accurateposition-detecting operation can be performed based on the linearoutput-change (linearity) of the one-axis hall element.

Similarly, when the center of the imaging device 39 a 1, passes throughthe optical axis LX, it is desirable that the vertical hall element hv10is located at a place on the hall element unit 44 a which faces anintermediate area between the N pole and S pole of the secondposition-detecting and driving magnet 412 b in the second direction y,viewed from the third direction z.

The base board 65 b is a plate state member which becomes the base forattaching the first position-detecting and driving yoke 431 b etc., andis arranged being parallel to the imaging surface of the imaging device39 a 1.

In this embodiment, the base board 65 b is arranged at the side nearerto the camera lens 67 in comparison with the movable circuit board 49 a,in the third direction z. However, the movable circuit board 49 a may bearranged at the side nearer to the camera lens 67 in comparison with thebase board 65 b. In this case, the first and second driving coils 31 aand 32 a, and the hall element unit 44 a are arranged on the oppositeside of the movable circuit board 49 a to the camera lens 67, so thatthe first and second position-detecting and driving magnets 411 b and412 b are arranged on the same side of the base board 65 b as the cameralens 67.

The hall-element signal-processing unit 45 has a first hall-elementsignal-processing circuit 450 and a second hall-elementsignal-processing circuit 460.

The first hall-element signal-processing circuit 450 detects ahorizontal potential-difference x10 between output terminals of thehorizontal hall element hh10, based on an output signal of thehorizontal hall element hh10.

The first hall-element signal-processing circuit 450 outputs the firstdetected-position signal px, which specifies the first location in thefirst direction x of the movable unit 30 a, to the A/D converter A/D 2of the CPU 21, on the basis of the horizontal potential-difference x10.

The second hall-element signal-processing circuit 460 detects a verticalpotential-difference y10 between output terminals of the vertical hallelement hv10, based on an output signal of the vertical hall elementhv10.

The second hall-element signal-processing circuit 460 outputs the seconddetected-position signal py, which specifies the second location in thesecond direction y of the movable unit 30 a, to the A/D converter A/D 3of the CPU 21, on the basis of the vertical potential-difference y10.

The circuit construction regarding input/output signals of thehorizontal hall element hh10, in the first hall-elementsignal-processing circuit 450 of the hall-element signal-processingcircuit 45, and the circuit construction regarding input/output signalsof the vertical hall element hv10, in the second hall-elementsignal-processing circuit 460 of the hall-element signal-processingcircuit 45 are explained using FIG. 7.

The first hall-element signal-processing circuit 450 has a circuit 451and a circuit 453 for controlling the output of the horizontal hallelement hh10, and has a circuit 456 for controlling the input of thehorizontal hall element hh10.

The second hall-element signal-processing circuit 460 has a circuit 461and a circuit 463 for controlling the output of the vertical hallelement hv10, and has a circuit 466 for controlling the input of thevertical hall element hv10.

Both output terminals of the horizontal hall element hh10 are connectedwith the circuit 451, so that the circuit 451 is connected with thecircuit 453.

The circuit 451 is a differential amplifier circuit which amplifies thesignal difference between the output terminals of the horizontal hallelement hh10.

The circuit 453 is a subtracting amplifier circuit which calculates thehorizontal potential-difference x10 (the hall output voltage) on thebasis of the difference between the amplified signal difference from thecircuit 451 and a reference voltage Vref, and which calculates the firstdetected-position signal px by multiplying a predetermined amplificationrate by the horizontal potential-difference x10.

The circuit 451 has a resistor R1, a resistor R2, a resistor R3, anoperational amplifier A1, and an operational amplifier A2. Theoperational amplifier A1 has an inverting input terminal, anon-inverting input terminal, and an output terminal. The operationalamplifier A2 has an inverting input terminal, a non-inverting inputterminal, and an output terminal.

One of the output terminals of the horizontal hall element hh10 isconnected with the non-inverting input terminal of the operationalamplifier A1, so that the other terminal of the horizontal hall elementhh10 is connected with the non-inverting input terminal of theoperational amplifier A2.

The inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier A1 isconnected with the resistors R1 and R2, so that the inverting inputterminal of the operational amplifier A2 is connected with the resistorsR1 and R3.

The output terminal of the operational amplifier A1 is connected withthe resistor R2 and the resistor R7 in the circuit 453. The outputterminal of the operational amplifier A2 is connected with the resistorR3 and the resistor R9 in the circuit 453.

The circuit 453 has a resistor R7, a resistor R8, a resistor R9, aresistor R10, and an operational amplifier A5. The operational amplifierA5 has an inverting input terminal, a non-inverting input terminal, andan output terminal.

The inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier A5 isconnected with the resistors R7 and R8. The non-inverting input terminalof the operational amplifier A5 is connected with the resistors R9 andR10. The output terminal of the operational amplifier A5 is connectedwith the resistor RB. The first detected-position signal px, which isobtained by multiplying the predetermined amplification rate, by thehorizontal potential-difference x10, is output from the output terminalof the operational amplifier A5. One of the terminals of the resistorR10 is connected with the power supply whose voltage is the referencevoltage Vref.

The values of the resistors R2 and R3 are the same. The values of theresistors R7 and R9 are the same. The values of the resistors R8 and R10are the same.

This predetermined amplification rate is based on the values of theresistors R7˜R10 (the ratio of the value of the resistor R7 to the valueof the resistor R8).

The operational amplifiers A1 and A2 are the same type of amplifier.

The circuit 456 has a resistor R19 and an operational amplifier AB. Theoperational amplifier A8 has an inverting input terminal, anon-inverting input terminal, and an output terminal.

The inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier A8 isconnected with the resistor R19 and one of the input terminals of thehorizontal hall element hh10. The potential of the non-inverting inputterminal of the operational amplifier A8 is set at the first voltage XVfcorresponding to the value of the current that flows through the inputterminals of the horizontal hall element hh10. The output terminal ofthe operational amplifier AB is connected with the other input terminalof the horizontal hall element hh10. One of the terminals of theresistor R19 is grounded.

Both output terminals of the vertical hall element hv10 are connectedwith the circuit 461, so that the circuit 461 is connected with thecircuit 463.

The circuit 461 is a differential amplifier circuit which amplifies thesignal difference between the output terminals of the vertical hallelement hv10.

The circuit 463 is a subtracting amplifier circuit which calculates thevertical potential-difference y10 (the hall output voltage) on the basisof the difference between the amplified signal difference from thecircuit 461 and a reference voltage Vref, and which calculates thesecond detected-position signal py by multiplying a predeterminedamplification rate by the vertical potential-difference y10.

The circuit 461 has a resistor R21, a resistor R22, a resistor R23, anoperational amplifier A21, and an operational amplifier A22. Theoperational amplifier A21 has an inverting input terminal, anon-inverting input terminal, and an output terminal. The operationalamplifier A22 has an inverting input terminal, a non-inverting inputterminal, and an output terminal.

One of the output terminals of the vertical hall element hv10 isconnected with the non-inverting input terminal of the operationalamplifier A21, so that the other terminal of the vertical hall elementhv10 is connected with the non-inverting input terminal of theoperational amplifier A22.

The inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier A21 isconnected with the resistors R21 and R22, so that the inverting inputterminal of the operational amplifier A22 is connected with theresistors R21 and R23.

The output terminal of the operational amplifier A21 is connected withthe resistor R22 and the resistor R27 in the circuit 463. The outputterminal of the operational amplifier A22 is connected with the resistorR23 and the resistor R29 in the circuit 463.

The circuit 463 has a resistor R27, a resistor R28, a resistor R29, aresistor R30, and an operational amplifier A25. The operationalamplifier A25 has an inverting input terminal, a non-inverting inputterminal, and an output terminal.

The inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier A25 isconnected with the resistors R27 and R28. The non-inverting inputterminal of the operational amplifier A25 is connected with theresistors R29 and R30. The output terminal of the operational amplifierA25 is connected with the resistor R28. The second detected-positionsignal py, which is obtained by multiplying the predeterminedamplification rate, by the vertical potential-difference y10, is outputfrom the output terminal of the operational amplifier A25. One of theterminals of the resistor R30 is connected with the power supply whosevoltage is the reference voltage Vref.

The values of the resistors R22 and R23 are the same. The values of theresistors R27 and R29 are the same. The values of the resistors R28 andR30 are the same.

This predetermined amplification rate is based on the values of theresistors R27˜R30 (the ratio of the value of the resistor R27 to thevalue of the resistor R28).

The operational amplifiers A21 and A22 are the same type of amplifier.

The circuit 466 has a resistor R39 and an operational amplifier A28. Theoperational amplifier A28 has an inverting input terminal, anon-inverting input terminal, and an output terminal.

The inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier A28 isconnected with the resistor R39 and one of the input terminals of thevertical hall element hv10. The potential of the non-inverting inputterminal of the operational amplifier A28 is set at the second voltageYVf corresponding to the value of the current that flows through theinput terminals of the vertical hall element hv10. The output terminalof the operational amplifier A28 is connected with the other inputterminal of the vertical hall element hv10. One of the terminals of theresistor R39 is grounded.

Next, the flow of the anti-shake operation, which is performed at everypredetermined time interval (1 ms) as an interruption process,independently of the other operations, is explained by using theflowchart in FIG. 8.

In step S11, the interruption process for the anti-shake operation isstarted. In step S12, the first angular velocity vx, which is outputfrom the angular velocity detecting unit 25, is input to the A/Dconverter A/D 0 of the CPU 21 and is converted to a digital signal. Thesecond angular velocity vy, which is output from the angular velocitydetecting unit 25, is input to the A/D converter A/D 1 of the CPU 21 andis converted to a digital signal.

In step S13, the position of the movable unit 30 a is detected by thehall element unit 44 a, so that the first detected-position signal px,which is calculated by the hall-element signal-processing unit 45, isinput to the A/D converter A/D 2 of the CPU 21 and is converted to adigital signal (pdx), and the second detected-position signal py, whichis calculated by the hall-element signal-processing unit 45, is input tothe A/D converter A/D 3 of the CPU 21 and is converted to a digitalsignal (pdy). Therefore, the present position of the movable unit 30 a P(pdx, pdy) is determined.

In step S14, it is judged whether the value of the IS is 0. When it isjudged that the value of the IS is 0 (IS=0), in other words in the nonanti-shake mode, the position S (sx, sy) of the movable unit 30 a (theimaging unit 39 a), which should be moved to, is set to the center ofthe movement range of the movable unit 30 a, in step S15. When it isjudged that the value of the IS is not 0 (IS=1), in other words in theanti-shake mode, the position S (sx, sy) of the movable unit 30 a (theimaging unit 39 a), which should be moved to, is calculated on the basisof the first and second angular velocities vx and vy, in step S16.

In step S17, the driving force D, which drives the driver circuit 29 inorder to move the movable unit 30 a to the position S, in other wordsthe first PWM duty dx and the second PWM duty dy, is calculated on thebasis of the position S (sx, sy), which is determined in step S15 orstep S16, and the present position P (pdx, pdy).

In step S18, the first driving coil unit 31 a is driven by using thefirst PWM duty dx through the driver circuit 29, and the second drivingcoil unit 32 a is driven by using the second PWM duty dy through thedriver circuit 29, so that the movable unit 30 a is moved.

The process in steps S17 and S18 is an automatic control calculation,which is used with the PID automatic control for performing general(normal) proportional, integral, and differential calculations.

In this embodiment, it is explained that the movable unit 30 a has theimaging device 39 a 1. However, the movable unit 30 a may have ahand-shake correcting lens instead of the imaging device.

Further, it is explained that the hall element is used forposition-detecting as the magnetic-field change-detecting element,however, another detecting element may be used for position-detecting.Specifically, the detecting element may be an MI (Magnetic Impedance)sensor, in other words a high-frequency carrier-type magnetic-fieldsensor, or a magnetic resonance-type magnetic-field detecting element,or an MR (Magneto-Resistance effect) element. When one of the MI sensor,the magnetic resonance-type magnetic-field detecting element, and the MRelement is used, the information regarding the position of the movableunit can be obtained by detecting the magnetic-field change, similar tousing the hall element.

Further, in the first, second, and third embodiments, the movable unit30 a is movable in the first direction x and the second direction y,relative to the fixed unit 30 b, so that the position-detectingoperation is performed by detecting the position of the movable unit inthe first direction x (the first location), and in the second directiony (the second location). However, any other methods (or means) formoving the movable unit 30 a on a plane which is perpendicular to thethird direction z (the optical axis LX), and for detecting the movableunit 30 a on the plane, are acceptable.

For example, the movement of the movable unit may only be in onedimension, so that the movable unit can be moved only in the firstdirection x (not the second direction y). In this case, the partsregarding the movement of the movable unit in the second direction y andregarding the position-detecting operation of the movable unit in thesecond direction y, such as the vertical hall element hv10 etc., may beomitted (see FIG. 3 etc.).

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been describedherein with reference to the accompanying drawings, obviously manymodifications and changes may be made by those skilled in this artwithout departing from the scope of the invention.

The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in JapanesePatent Application No. 2004-065214 (filed on Mar. 9, 2004), which isexpressly incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety.

1. An anti-shake apparatus of a photographing apparatus, comprising: amovable unit that has one of an imaging device and a hand-shakecorrecting lens, and that can be moved in first and second directions,said first direction being perpendicular to an optical axis of a cameralens of said photographing apparatus, and said second direction beingperpendicular to said optical axis and said first direction; and a fixedunit that slidably supports said movable unit in both said first andsecond directions; said movable unit having a magnetic-fieldchange-detecting unit, and a first driving coil which is used for movingsaid movable unit in said first direction, and a second driving coilwhich is used for moving said movable unit in said second direction;said magnetic-field change-detecting unit having a horizontalmagnetic-field change-detecting element which is used for detecting aposition of said movable unit in said first direction as a firstlocation, and a vertical magnetic-field change-detecting element whichis used for detecting a position of said movable unit in said seconddirection as a second location; said horizontal magnetic-fieldchange-detecting element being arranged inside said first driving coil;and said vertical magnetic-field change-detecting element being arrangedinside said second driving coil.
 2. The anti-shake apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein said horizontal magnetic-field change-detectingelement is arranged midway along an outer circumference of said firstdriving coil in said first direction; and said vertical magnetic-fieldchange-detecting element is arranged midway along an outer circumferenceof said second driving coil in said second direction.
 3. The anti-shakeapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second drivingcoils form seat and spiral shape coil patterns.
 4. The anti-shakeapparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first driving coil is amulti-layered seat coil where some of the coils which form said seat andspiral shape coil patterns, are layered in a third direction beingparallel to said optical axis; and said second driving coil is amulti-layered seat coil where some of the coils which form said seat andspiral shape coils patterns, are layered in said third direction.
 5. Theanti-shake apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said movable unit hasa multi-layered circuit board; said first driving coil and saidhorizontal magnetic-field change-detecting element are layered in saidthird direction and are attached to said multi-layered circuit board;and said second driving coil and said vertical magnetic-fieldchange-detecting element are layered in said third direction and areattached to said multi-layered circuit board.
 6. The anti-shakeapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fixed unit has a firstposition-detecting and driving magnet which is used for detecting saidfirst location and for moving said movable unit in said first direction,and which faces said horizontal magnetic-field change-detecting element,and has a second position-detecting and driving magnet which is used fordetecting said second location and for moving said movable unit in saidsecond direction, and which faces said vertical magnetic-fieldchange-detecting element.
 7. The anti-shake apparatus according to claim1, wherein said magnetic-field change-detecting unit has one saidhorizontal magnetic-field change-detecting element and one said verticalmagnetic-field change-detecting element.
 8. The anti-shake apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said magnetic-field change-detecting unitis a one-axis hall element; and said horizontal magnetic-fieldchange-detecting element and said vertical magnetic-fieldchange-detecting element are hall elements.
 9. An anti-shake apparatusof a photographing apparatus, comprising: a movable unit that has one ofan imaging device and a hand-shake correcting lens, and that can bemoved on a plane which is perpendicular to an optical axis of a cameralens of said photographing apparatus; and a fixed unit that supportssaid movable unit so as to be movable on said plane; said movable unithaving a magnetic-field change-detecting unit which is used fordetecting a position of said movable unit on said plane, and a drivingcoil which is used for moving said movable unit on said plane; and saidmagnetic-field change-detecting unit being arranged inside said drivingcoil.